Spraying with polyurethane foam: technology and price. How to spray polyurethane foam with your own hands?

The issue of insulation of residential buildings is relevant in almost all regions of Russia. Spraying polyurethane foam is an effective solution to the problem. This insulation is a two-component composition.

Very low, it is only 0.021 W/m 2 K. A layer of polyurethane foam 0.05 m thick has the same thermal conductivity properties as 1.6 m of brickwork. In addition, the material is very light. All this explains its wide popularity among builders of various profiles.

Area of ​​application of polyurethane foam

1. Construction of sandwich structures at industrial and civil facilities.

2. Creation of a noise-insulating layer in carriages and airplanes.

3. Thermal insulation by spraying polyurethane foam of window openings, internal roofing, doors and other structural elements.

4. cold and hot water supply.

Polyurethane foam is also used in the automotive industry, electrical engineering and many other fields.

Advantages of polyurethane foam insulation

1. Low heat loss coefficient of the building.

2. Resistance to negative environmental factors.

3. Excellent long-lasting adhesion to all types of brick and drywall.

4. There is no need to secure the thermal insulation with fasteners.

5. Polyurethane foam has excellent hydrophobicity.

6. Possibility of monolithic distribution of the material, that is, without visible seams.

7. Insulation with polyurethane foam by spraying does not require periodic restoration. This significantly saves labor resources.

8. The material consists of cells that allow it to “breathe”.

Disadvantages of polyurethane foam insulation

1. The service life of the material declared by the manufacturers is 15-20 years. But already in the fifth year of operation, polyurethane foam can lose up to 30% of its thermal insulation properties. This phenomenon is not so noticeable in conditions of constant low temperatures.

2. Equipment for spraying polyurethane foam is quite expensive.

3. The material has low fire safety.

We can conclude that the material has many more advantages than disadvantages.

Polyurethane foam spraying technology

Before insulation is carried out by spraying polyurethane foam, you need to prepare the surface to be treated. To do this, clean it from dirt and dry it well. It is important to remove all rust from metals and degrease them. Aluminum requires mandatory coating with a primer with a high degree of adhesion, this will help increase the adhesion of the insulation to the surface.

The temperature of the environment and components plays an important role in the spraying process. To obtain a highly effective layer, the composition must be between 10 and 25°C. The optimal temperature for the room is above +5 °C. Work in a colder environment can only be done with a solution heated to the desired state.

Spraying of polyurethane foam, reviews of which are almost always positive, is carried out under pressure above 100 atmospheres. Approximately two seconds after spraying, a foaming reaction occurs, followed by hardening of the composition. The resulting layer provides excellent thermal and waterproofing.

Stages of spraying polyurethane foam

1. Mixing all components of the composition. As a rule, mixtures of reagents, fire-fighting compounds, isocyanate and a fixative are combined. The last two components must first be mixed separately and filtered when a precipitate forms.

2. Spraying with polyurethane foam from a special spray gun using a compressor (foam generator).

3. Re-treat the surface (if necessary).

Average cost of polyurethane foam spraying in Russia

As you know, prices for various goods and services may differ in regions of the country. This also applies to spraying polyurethane foam. The cost of spraying 1 m2 depends on the thickness of the layer and the volume of the order. The larger the area being processed, the lower the price per square meter.

On average, for small volumes of work, that is, up to 200 m2, spraying with polyurethane foam costs 550-630 rubles per 1 m2. With an increase in the area for processing, the price per square meter decreases to approximately 500-600 rubles.

When drawing up an approximate estimate for spraying polyurethane foam, the price will also depend on the height of the walls. Typically, such markups are expressed as a percentage of the cost of services. For example, processing walls more than 3 m high will cost 10-20% more, and basements with low ceilings will cost 20% more.

The final cost of spraying polyurethane foam is calculated by specialists from companies providing such services. Workers always see the most vulnerable places for heat to escape from the premises. Therefore, experts will definitely suggest treating these surfaces several times.

Today you can work with polyurethane foam yourself. To do this, you need to have special equipment and basic knowledge about the components being sprayed. It is always better to do the work together.

DIY equipment for spraying polyurethane foam

Construction stores sell disposable kits for spraying polyurethane foam over small areas. Most often, such sets consist of two cylinders. One of them contains a polyol with freon 134, the other contains isocyanate.

The design of the equipment provides for mixing the components after pressing the trigger of the gun. Hoses with compounds are connected to gearboxes. The tanks are constantly monitored for pressure and temperature. If one of the parameters is violated, the material will set worse, which will lead to an increase in its consumption.

The cost of equipment for spraying polyurethane foam with your own hands

The spread of portable installations for polyurethane foam is explained by the fact that in private homes the area for insulation can be quite small. Teams of professional workers with expensive equipment simply do not go to such sites, since it is unprofitable. In other cases, small jobs will be very expensive due to the time-consuming assembly of the installations. Disposable kits are designed for safe use by hobbyists. In areas less than 20 m2 they prove advantageous.

The average cost of a one-time installation is from 16 to 30 thousand rubles. It contains approximately 1 m 3 of polyurethane foam. The same volume of composition purchased from a specialized company will cost more than 30 thousand rubles. The benefits of working independently are obvious.

DIY polyurethane foam spraying

All work must be carried out in good weather. High humidity outdoors and indoors at this time can slightly damage the polyurethane foam. Do-it-yourself spraying needs to be done in several layers. This is one of the main principles of work.

Insulation with polyurethane foam by spraying begins with complex surfaces: chimneys, ventilation hatches and pipelines. At the same stage, you need to close all the joints that go out. It is advisable to apply the first layer with a thickness of approximately 14 mm. After it hardens, you can begin further work.

The second and third layers are applied to each other with a short time interval. It is optimal to carry out all work in one day. If this is not possible, then, starting each subsequent layer, you need to carefully prepare the surface. With proper planning of working hours, insulation of a medium-sized private house can be completed in 2-3 days.

The most effective sound and heat insulation is considered to be a structure consisting of three layers.

Advantages and disadvantages of self-spraying polyurethane foam

Spraying work is carried out by specialists with professional equipment quite quickly. All work takes 1-2 days. Spraying yourself may take longer, as you need to carefully study the instructions and understand the equipment.

Polyurethane foam, spraying it yourself is beneficial only in small areas, hardens almost instantly, regardless of the design of the installation. This proves that there is no difference between professional and disposable designs.

Thus, in each case, the decision about independent or professional is made by the owners.